Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders finally gave Hillary Clinton what she and her backers have sought for weeks: an endorsement and declaration that the former secretary of state will be the Democratic presidential nominee.

“It was the proper thing to do,” progressive Chicago politician Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who campaigned for Sanders, said in phone interview. “Sanders made quite a mark in Democratic Party politics and policies. The effects of the political revolution will be felt for years to come. The most exciting part is the crop of young people who became politically involved and engaged.”

Clinton, speaking today alongside Sanders in N.H., wasted no time reaching out to his enthusiasts

“We take $27 donations too, you know,” Clinton told the crowd of ~3k in reference to Sanders’ oft-repeated claim about the average contribution made to his campaign

“Our country desperately needs your voices and involvement, and so does this campaign and so does the Democratic Party,” she said. “Let’s open the doors to everyone who shares our progressive values.”

“You will always have a seat at the table when I am in the White House.”

Garcia, who promoted a Sanders-type agenda when he ran against Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel last year, predicts that Clinton can win over enough of the “Feel the Bern” crowd to defeat Donald Trump in Nov., even though she won’t spark the “same level of energy or intensity” as Sanders did among backers

“But it helps and is strategic in building as much energy and movement to ensure” beating Trump and winning a Senate majority, says Garcia, who is now endorsing Clinton

Liberal activist group MoveOn, which initially backed Sanders, said Democrats are now ready to defeat Trump’s “toxic campaign of hate and lay the groundwork for progress”

Today’s rally began with speeches by two Sanders’ supporters, environmental activist Bill McKibben and Jim Dean, head of grass-roots group Democracy for America, Washington Post reports

McKibben on Twitter called Sanders the “greatest candidate of my lifetime;” at rally he emphasized Sanders’ appeal to young voters and said he hopes the Democratic Party doesn’t let them down

Disappointment among Sanders’ supporters was on display on social media

The owner of KCAA-AM radio in Loma Linda, Calif., wrote on Twitter that he’s “shocked, disappointed and humiliated by Bernie’s betrayal of me and millions of other Americans”

Trump used Sanders’ endorsement of Clinton as a chance to intensity his effort to woo the senator’s constituency

Sanders “has abandoned his supporters by endorsing pro-war pro-TPP pro-Wall Street Crooked Hillary Clinton,” went one Trump Twitter post; “To all the Bernie voters who want to stop bad trade deals & global special interests, we welcome you with open arms. People first,” another reads

Sanders, in his speech at rally, stressed Clinton’s commitment to addressing income inequality; he didn’t specifically mention big banks or “too big to fail,” a point of contention between the two during their primary fight

WHAT'S NEXT FOR SANDERS?

In an e-mail to supporters after the rally, Sanders said the “revolution” must continue; said in coming weeks he will unveil the creation of “successor organizations to carry on the struggle that we have been a part of these past 15 months”

Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver tells CNN the senator will campaign “coast to coast” to help elect Clinton and other Democrats; says Clinton “at least moves the ball forward” in terms of policy

Weaver also says Sanders is expected to speak at the Democratic National Convention later this month in Philadelphia; the schedule for his appearance is being worked out, he said

VEEPSTAKES

If Trump doesn’t pick Newt Gingrich as his VP, he may consider him for a top national security position, Bloomberg’s Terrence Dopp, Jennifer Jacobs and Mark Halperin report

Asked about the role, Gingrich said “I know nothing of this”

Trump holds a rally in Ind. tonight with the state’s governor and another possible running mate, Mike Pence

ETC

Trump tells AP the shootings in Dallas “might be just the beginning for this summer”

Clinton’s e-mail use as secretary of state “possibly jeopardized” the U.S., House Judiciary Cmte, Chairman Bob Goodlatte said in opening statement at hearing today at which he and other Republicans berated Attorney General Loretta Lynch over the investigation into the issue

Trump says Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s remarks on the prospect of him winning the presidency were “a disgrace to the Court,” New York Times reports

Ginsburg told the NYT: “I don’t even want to contemplate” a Trump presidency

Added that the possibility made caused her to think about moving to New Zealand

KS-01: Club for Growth Action super-PAC released TV ad that accuses Republican physician Roger Marshall of backing measure that “grows the debt by hundreds of billions”

Ad doesn’t include citation but refers to law that replaced Medicare’s sustainable growth rate physician-reimbursement formula with new system, Club spokesman Doug Sachtleben said in e-mail to Bloomberg; House passed the bill 392-37 in March 2015

Club for Growth backs GOP Rep. Tim Huelskamp, whom Marshall is challenging in Aug. 2 primary; Huelskamp among 33 Republicans who voted no on SGR overhaul

MI-10: Republican Paul Mitchell’s campaign released TV ad showing images of Obama and Clinton as narrator says “politicians in Washington refuse to confront the danger” from terrorist groups such as Islamic State

Ad refers to Mitchell as “hard-charging businessman” who will work to strengthen military and support veterans

Mitchell among five Republicans in Aug. 2 primary seeking to succeed GOP Rep. Candice Miller in district north of Detroit

NY-19: Teachout and Republican John Faso “differ ideologically but share an ability to fight hard and raise money,” Associated Press reported in profile of race in Hudson Valley where “both parties expect an expensive battle”